Prefixes and suffixes are types of affixes, which are added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning or form a new word.
A prefix is an affix that is added to the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. For example, the prefix “un-” can be added to the word “happy” to form the word “unhappy,” which means not happy. Other examples of common prefixes include “pre-“, “re-“, “dis-“, and “anti-“.
A suffix is an affix that is added to the end of a word to change its meaning or form a new word. For example, the suffix “-able” can be added to the word “read” to form the word “readable,” which means capable of being read. Other examples of common suffixes include “-ful”, “-less”, “-er”, and “-ing”.
Knowing common prefixes and suffixes can help you understand the meaning of many words and also help you form new words from existing ones.
Here are some examples of words with prefixes and suffixes:
➡️ Prefix: “dis-” + “like” = “dislike” (not like)
➡️ Prefix: “pre-” + “heat” = “preheat” (heat beforehand)
➡️ Prefix: “re-” + “do” = “redo” (do again)
➡️ Suffix: “happy” + “-ness” = “happiness” (state of being happy)
➡️ Suffix: “beauty” + “-ful” = “beautiful” (having beauty)
➡️ Suffix: “talk” + “-ing” = “talking” (the action of talking)
Sometimes a word can have both a prefix and a suffix. For example, the word “unhappily” has the prefix “un-” and the suffix “-ly”, which changes the meaning to “not happy in a manner of unhappiness.”
Knowing common prefixes and suffixes can help you understand the meaning of unfamiliar words, as well as help you improve your vocabulary and communication skills.
Learning common prefixes and suffixes can also help you to identify the root word of a word you are unfamiliar with. The root word is the base word that a prefix or suffix is added to. For example, in the word “dislike,” the root word is “like.” By knowing the meaning of the prefix “dis-,” which means “not,” and the root word “like,” we can understand that “dislike” means “not like.”
Here are some more examples of root words and their prefixes and suffixes:
➡️ Root word: “agree”
➡️ Prefix: “dis-” + “agree” = “disagree” (not agree)
➡️ Suffix: “agree” + “-ment” = “agreement” (a state of agreeing)
➡️ Root word: “organize”
➡️ Prefix: “re-” + “organize” = “reorganize” (organize again)
➡️ Suffix: “organize” + “-er” = “organizer” (one who organizes)
➡️ Root word: “friend”
➡️ Prefix: “un-” + “friend” = “unfriend” (no longer a friend)
➡️ Suffix: “friend” + “-ship” = “friendship” (the state of being friends)
By learning the meanings of common prefixes and suffixes and identifying the root word, you can build your vocabulary and improve your reading and writing skills.
